endurnýttir

Endurnýttir is an Icelandic term used to describe goods and materials that have been used previously and are brought back into use through reuse, refurbishment, remanufacturing, or upcycling. The concept is a key element of the circular economy, emphasizing the extension of product lifetimes to reduce resource extraction, waste generation, and environmental impact. In Icelandic discourse, endurnýttir can refer both to the items themselves (endurnýttir hlutir) and to the practices that keep them in circulation (endurnýttingu).

Distinguished from recycling, which typically involves breaking materials down to recover raw materials, endurnýttir focuses on maintaining products in use. This includes repair services, second-hand markets, donations, refurbishment, and upcycling, where old goods are transformed into higher-value items.

Examples of endurnýttir include refurbished electronics, second-hand furniture, repurposed containers, and clothing sold through vintage or rental models. Community initiatives such as repair cafés and local take-back schemes, along with policies that encourage durability, standardization for repairability, and modular design, support endurnýttir practices.

Benefits of promoting endurnýttir include reduced waste, lower energy use and emissions compared with producing new goods, economic opportunities in repair and refurbishment sectors, and greater resilience of local supply chains. Challenges can include consumer perceptions, regulatory barriers for certain products, quality assurance, and the logistical complexity of establishing reliable reuse networks.

See also: Circular economy, Reuse, Repair, Upcycling, Endurvinnsla (recycling).